RBD adopts donation policy

On Nov. 28, the Regional Building Commission voted to adopt a policy that will guide donations from its roughly $10 million in excess funds.

The Pikes Peak Regional Building Department has been criticized for doling out nearly $1 million in donations to various local causes, using money that poured in from a July 2016 hail storm, as well as subsequent storms.

The new policy requires recipients to have nonprofit status and propose a project that relates directly to the building industry in El Paso County. Recipients also must submit financial information to be considered for a donation.

Previous donations went to Springs Rescue Mission, El Paso County parks, a senior reroofing program, the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce and EDC, the Council of Neighbors and Organizations and others, as first reported by the Indy (News, Oct. 25, 2017). Under the new donor program, many of the previous recipients wouldn't qualify.

The excess money doesn't include the $3.1 million RBD received for selling land in the lower downtown area to Nor'wood Development Group, plans for which remain unclear.